MLB ended the '16 regular season with a total attendance of 73.16 million, down 0.8% from '15 and the third decline at the gate in the last four seasons. However, the sport’s 13 best attended seasons have occurred in the last 13 years. Each of the last eight seasons have stayed within a range of 73-75 million.
The Dodgers again led individual clubs in attendance, pacing the league for a fourth straight year with a total of 3.7 million, while the Rays again ranked last with a total of 1.29 million. The Blue Jays posted the largest increase en route to a total of 3.39 million, the club’s largest draw since '90, ending a run in which the Yankees had led the AL in attendance each year since '03. The Reds had the largest decrease, falling to 1.89 million as they finished last in the NL Central and no longer had the '15 MLB All-Star Game at Great American Ball Park as a sales tool.
Twelve clubs topped 2.5 million in home attendance, down from 14 last year but even with '14. Seven clubs topped 3 million, up from five last year as the Blue Jays and Cubs this year joined a group with the Dodgers, Cardinals, Giants, Yankees and Angels. The MLB attendance decline follows a 2.8% drop for Minor League Baseball this season.
